Poland sends jets skyward as Russian airstrikes target Ukraine

Poland scrambled its aircraft again in response to a Russian combined attack on Ukraine in the early hours of Tuesday, August 19, said the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces on X.

The post emphasised that, following long-range Russian airstrikes on Ukraine during the night of August 18 to 19, all necessary procedures were activated, Caliber.Az informs.

❗️Uwaga, w nocy z 18 na 19 sierpnia 2025 r. lotnictwo dalekiego zasięgu Federacji Rosyjskiej po raz kolejny rozpoczęło ataki rakietowe na terytorium Ukrainy.

W celu zapewnienia bezpieczeństwa polskiej przestrzeni powietrznej, Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ uruchomiło wszystkie… pic.twitter.com/3ynjQ4H5IK

— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) August 19, 2025

“To ensure the security of Polish airspace, the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces has implemented all required measures. Polish and allied aircraft have begun operations, and ground-based air defense systems and radar reconnaissance have been placed on high alert,” the statement read.

It added that “these actions are preventive in nature and aimed at safeguarding the airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened zone.”

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Poland has repeatedly scrambled fighter jets—often F-16s and allied aircraft stationed in Poland as part of NATO’s air policing mission—to counter potential spillover from Russian missile and drone strikes. These actions reflect heightened vigilance among NATO’s eastern flank members, who are concerned about the risk of Russian projectiles inadvertently entering alliance territory.

On August 18-19, Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles targeting multiple Ukrainian regions, including areas close to Poland, such as Lviv and Volyn. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the attacks involved over 300 strike drones and more than 30 missiles, aimed at critical infrastructure, including energy facilities.

By Khagan Isayev